Rachael McLean - A True Gift

Rachael McLean

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The BUZZ on Bee Hotels...

By Rachael McLean

Photos by Steve Smith, Visionfire Photography

Bees are in trouble. We need them to survive, that means we are in trouble.

Pollination is an essential part of food production. With bee population rapidly disappearing we need to snap out of it and do our part to help the situation.

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uilding a bee hotel provides a place for solitary bees to hatch their young. It is easy to make and fun to do with a little person and a great learning opportunity. Kids really care about their environment.

They get it, very simply. Helping to save the bees is the perfect cause for your budding environmentalist to get behind.

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1. Build or find a simple frame for your hotel. In our example we’ve tacked together 4 pieces of 1x6 roughly 8”x8”. You could cut the ends off a milk carton, a big can, use a piece of PVC pipe, plenty of options.

2. Collect dry, hollow or pithy stems, reeds, grasses even a bamboo stake cut to length will work. The bee will be laying eggs the whole length of the tube, creating cells and leaving nectar or pollen for the larva . Different sizes from 2mm up to 10mm diameter will do.

3. Cut them to fit inside your hotel and layer them randomly until full.

4. Position your hotel so that it receives mid to late morning SE sun about a meter off the ground.

Make sure that it is stable and not swinging so don’t hang it on a branch.

5. In the winter place the bee house somewhere dry. Cold will not bother the bees, its the dampness. Hopefully there are lots of bee babies in the hotel so treat it well!

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Alternately, you could drill holes in a piece of wood following the same principles as above.

Things to remember: • DON’T pick/spray your dandelions. They are the first food in Spring for the hungry bees.

• if birds or other pests after the grubs become a problem, put chicken wire on the face of the hotel to discourage stealing.

• replace the stems every other year in case mould or parasites are present.

Liam Russell gets “buzzy” with Rachael building a be hotel for his own backyard.

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BY RACHAEL MACLEAN

W

HAT MATTERS MOST IN YOUR LIFE?

I’m going to hedge a bet that if you take a minute (some may need longer) that the answer isn’t going to be your worldly possessions or latest Pokemon capture, it’s the people in your life that you love and care about; your family, friends and neighbours. Thing is, all too often these people get put behind the “stuff” that fills our day to the brim.

Ray Oldenburg, an urban sociologist, Professor Emeritus at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of West Florida, has a book The Great Good Place written all the way back in 1991. He has worked with designers, communities and people around the world. So what has he got to say? Ray breaks down our physical world into 3 places.

 First place, HOME. Second place, WORK. Third places are where you go to connect with people.

Relax. Talk. Listen. Connect.

 The Third place is the jam that holds both the first and second together. These places, are essential to community vitality, says Oldenburg.

Your everyday third place has traditionally been barber shops, post offices and local pubs but not so much any more.

More often than not, hangouts and watering holes are now

populated with WiFi seekers and laptop loners. I’m one of them! Times have changed.We seem to need a reason to hang out and be social these days.Where do we do that? Is it still important?

As a whole,WE need to do a better job at the important things listed above.When was the last time you checked in with your neighbour? Listened to your mother, relaxed with your kids, really talked to your friend. Things seemed to have gotten a lot busier these days. We are connecting all the time, to our devices... virtually communicating with people around the world but something is still missing.

So, how do we do better? Ray is totally on to some thing with third places.We need to make third places a priority.This is where we are better people, nurture community, be kind and CARE.They are neutral spaces.What do these third places look like? Well, we have a great example in our community. The New Glasgow Farmers Market is a blooming example of a vital component in our regional fabric. People come to get their local goods with most staying to soak up the company, listen to some music and contribute to positive population health.Wow! A little church in Alma is creating a neutral place for community to come every Monday night and hear local music and beyond (Check out the line up for Music Monday’s at Green Hill-Alma United Church, on FaceBook). A friend of mine organizes a free-flowing group of parents and kids that go into the woods and explore every week. I don’t always know everyone there, which is great! I’m meeting new friends and catching up with old friends and the same goes for my boys.

The logistics of rural life often challenge certain demographics.We have some hurdles to get around, no question but in the mean time, do your best to connect. Don’t go to town or an event with empty seats in your vehicle. Pull people together. Be it to the weekly market or back woods romp. Make more room for these types of connections in your life. Your community and humanity thanks you!

...make third places a priority.

This is where we are better people, nurture community, be kind and CARE. 9-

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The North Shore

THE INSIDE STORY

BY RACHAEL MACLEAN

Feather your Nest with a

MEADOW BALL “Let’s make meadow balls!” Crystal said.“Sure, sounds fun! Umm what the heck are meadow balls Crystal??” I said. First stop, Google. Of course! Google knows everything.Apparently Google doesn’t know about meadow balls… Crystal’s idea had come from a British magazine that she had picked up earlier in the year while on vacation. Upon seeing the pictures, I’ll admit I was skeptical. BUT they are European so they

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have to be cool on some level. So after quick study, off I went to the field and you guessed it, the ditch. I cut a large bucketful of material and hauled it over to Crys’s house to see what we could assemble.To my pleasant surprise the result was simple, beautiful and unique. Our end result was more of a nest but Crystal was on the money all along. Here’s what and how we created our wildflower wonders.

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1. With a sharp pair of pruners or scissors head to fields (or edges if they are farmed) and ditches to collect Vetch (purple flower) and other matting vine-y like weeds.

Cut big bunches of it close to the ground.This will be your base material so take lots.

2. Walk around and notice what’s in bloom.There are an abundance of beautiful wildflowers in Nova Scotia and our backyards. Many we throw into the compost regularly. Here’s your chance to embrace the weeds!

Photos by Crystal Murray

3. When I was out, Queen Ann’s lace was everywhere. Lots of Golden Rod, Purple Clover and grasses. Cut the flowers with a long stem so you have something to work with.

4. Head back in with your haul and lay everything out. Seeing is half knowing.

Take the “base” materials and gather them together at one end. Like you would pony tail.

5. With the 3/4 of the base materials gathered in one hand at the end, with your other hand brush, smooth the out. So they aren’t in a big ball, more of a long strand.Think of a horse’s tail!

6. Then start to loosely twist the “tail” together.This will make it more of a garland and you can then begin to circle it into a nest shape.Tuck the ends in.

7. Once into the shape, pull the garland apart slightly, fluffing it up to give more volume.

8. With the remaining base material gather and layer the inside of the nest.

9. Then take the wildflowers and weave them, randomly into the outside of the nest. Break the stems part way so they will fit in and go around the curve of the nest.

Place it in a bird bath or as a centre piece on an outdoor table. Be creative!

When you’re finished those pesky weeds that often go unnoticed, will give you a new appreciation of their simple beauty that naturally grows all around us.

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Ultimately being outside as much as possible is so good for us.

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A little climate control in your own backyard

BY RACHAEL MCLEAN

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ast week on the walk back up our drive way from the bus stop, it started to snow. The little hand that I was holding tightened round mine and squeals of delight followed. My first reaction wasn’t exactly the same sentiment. But I snapped out of it because Felix was just so darn excited.

“Momma do you know who Loooves snow?”

“Who?” I said as we loaded into the car for daycare.

“Santa!” I laughed and he continued on about how much he loved snow too and listing everything he wanted to do in it.

It got me thinking... When did I start to dread winter? I remember when I was little hearing grown-ups talk about the dreaded season and thinking what’s wrong with it? It’s not so bad! Wait did this mean that I’m now those grown ups I thought were sooo old?

I do love the change of season but I know I’m not alone in feeling down right depressed at the thought of layers and boots and scraping the car... ok I’ll stop there. Winter is a fact of life for Maritimers and one that we need to face and dare say embrace.

So rather than planning our lives and landscapes for the “smaller seasons” we should look at winter in a different light.

Speaking of, light is a big thing when the days are short. Currently I’m working on a new build project and some would say that starting from scratch is the easiest but I wouldn’t totally agree.

With a fresh piece of ground taking the time to locate and position the building is key. Capturing the optimal sun exposure can make a big difference in how you experience the space. (Check out this neat interactive map at suncalc.net).

Can you think about sitting in a sunny spot on a winter day? Out of the direct wind, maybe on a rock? I think that the sun feels better in those moments than hot sunny days all summer. When designing an outdoor space take the elements into consideration. Building microclimates by structuring a windbreak and locating it in the optimal sun path, will give you a space that can be enjoyed all year long. Windbreaks don’t have to be solid either. Absorbing the winds energy with a “soft” feature is more successful.

Ornamental grasses are great for this and work in winter so don’t cut them down just yet. Do some research and you will see the plethora of options. Talk to Bob at West River Greenhouses or Jeanette at the Green Thumb. They, along with their staff, are full of information and come spring, will have plenty stock to choose from.

Ultimately being outside as much as possible is so good for us.

Especially given the amount we spend indoors on a daily bases.

So embrace your inner child and pull on those boots. It’s not all bad!

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TERRAR

tips Planting a plan for a party!

BY RACHAEL McLEAN

T

errariums are something that I always thought were a little daunting but I’ve totally changed my mind. I just had to do it and now know how easy and fun they really can be.

So let’s start with the basics. Terrariums come in all shapes and sizes but boil down to being either open to the air or closed with a cover. If you go the covered route, you will have to do less watering. Condensation will do the work for you. Overall, they require a little up-front cost for materials but are really low maintenance and worry free. But I have an idea for that! Why not have a terrarium party?!

Because any reason to have a party is a good one. This way you can cost share on materials.

Have everyone take something from the list below (including food and bev) and you’re set for a fun Friday night.

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Here’s what everyone will need to plant their own terrarium and where you can share.

Everyone 1. GLASS CONTAINER with a wide opening, with or without a cover.

2. SOME SMALL TRINKETS to personalize your mini landscape.

Take a few options so you can play around with it.

3. SUCCULENTS! Also available at floral shops. Quantity depending on the size of your container. We used three and found them at McKean’s Flowers in New Glasgow.

Share 1. ROCKS. Golf ball size down to pea gravel size.

2. ACTIVE CHARCOAL. I found it at the pet store. It was for a fish tank filter. I just cut the mesh bag open and used the contents.

3. MOSS. Don’t go into the woods and desecrate a beautiful woodland. There is moss everywhere if you look. I found mine near the edge of a barn where water runs. You can also buy it at floral shops.

4. POTTING SOIL. Off the shelf is fine.

239 Main St., Antigonish

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Layer the ingredients staring with the pebble size rocks.

Next layer charcoal, then add a thin layer of soil. Insure that each layer covers the whole base. Add larger rocks to build up certain areas and/or give more structure. Tuck your plants in and hold them out of the way with one hand, while adding more soil in and around the roots. Make sure there are no air pockets in the soil. With your plants arranged, layer in the moss and press in place. Each layer can vary in thickness from one to three inches. Again the size of your container will dictate the thickness as well.

Place your creation near a window or somewhere with nice natural light. Mist/water lightly if you don’t have it covered.

Soak up the natural indoor beauty!

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Glow

Get your Tips and tricks for your outdoor holiday lighting

BY RACHAEL MCLEAN PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

T

he weather outside is frightful but that’s ok because you got your holiday lights up weeks ago. Ok maybe not but there is still time to make your property warm up with the spirit of the holiday with these great lighting tips from one of our local landscape pros.

It was one of those balmy 20 degrees days we had at the end of October when I caught up with Danielle LeClair, one half of Urban Roots, Plant Health Care to learn a few tricks of the trade.

I am a Christmas in December kind of person but the last few years it’s been creeping up on me and I’ve found myself thinking about it in *gasp* November. I guess marketing does work…

Or maybe I’m trying to be more organized?

Urban Roots is a local landscape company with two experienced, well educated, and down right great people at the helm.

Jeremy and Danielle LeClair have been in the arboriculture and landscape industry for 10+ years. Working across the country, they have come back to Danielle’s roots in Nova Scotia and now call Pictou Landing

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on! home. Both are heavily involved within the local ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) chapter and hosted the recent climbing exhibition this fall in Charmichael Park. They were also awarded the 2017 Boston Tree contract for the second time and will be tackling that project in the coming weeks.

With the sun shinning and ground to cover Danielle and I chat for a few minutes about past projects, then get down to business installing some white lights on a client’s property.

Continued on next page...

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The following is a list of tips and tricks we have both applied when working seasonal lighting into the landscape.

1. Buy all of your lights in one go. The warmth of colours varies from batch to batch. Even though the lights say they are all the same intensity, experience has led us to discover that if you buy a box here and there, the light result will vary.

2. If you require outdoor extension cords, make sure they are dark in colour.

That way they will blend into the grass or shrub bed. Halloween is over so ditch the orange!

3. Cut all of the tags off the extension cords and strings of lights. Please.

4. Whether the lights are new or coming out of storage, stretch them out with a bit of a tug so they will lay relatively flat.

Pro-tip Do #4 inside a warm garage or house before heading out into the cold. They won’t relax well, if cold.

5. Don’t wait until its cold! Put your lights up when it’s nice and warm. Your fingers will thank-you and your end result will be much nicer. Like the lights and cords in Tip #4 It’s hard to relax when you’re cold. I don’t like thinking about Christmas before December but this is one chore to check off early.

6. For shrubs, start at the top. Place the light strands on loosely as you loop around. Once you have as many on as you would like, go back over and tuck the lights into the shrub. Point the lights inward and out of sight. You don’t want to see the lights themselves, just their effect.

7. For evergreen trees start at the top as well but be sure you don’t loop the strand around the leader (central stem) of the tree. If lights are left on until next season, this will deter growth. Arrange lights loosely all over then go back and tuck them in.

Pro-tip For a different look, try mixing strands of little lights and large lights together on one tree, shrub or grouping.

8. Use black electrical tape to secure the connection between the lights and extension cord. It will also help keep any water out.

9. Bury your lines. No need to hire an excavator, just loosen the soil with a trowel or your fingers and create a little trough. Lay the cord in it and cover back over with the soil and mulch.

10. Consider using a power stake. Available in most hardware stores, the stake has a series of outlets for outdoor use. Run extension cords to one spot vs multiple lines to an outlet on a building.

11. If you are going for a more symmetrical look, get out the measuring stick. Precision pays off when going this route. Gaps really stand out when everything is lit so use something as a spacer between your strings to ensure equal distance between each.

12. Be Safe. If you are using a ladder, have a buddy hold it and don’t go too high. If you are going to tackle a big tree consider calling a professional.

They have the gear (and insurance) to get up and out of a tree safely.

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INSIDE STORY

H

ave you ever experienced the time travel that a childhood memory can evoke? Memory is triggered by sights, smells, tastes and tactile experience.

Those primal sensory elements can directly shape how you act or experience the present. Most attach heart memory with food. But you know, landscape can pack some punch.

These three beauties are all familiar. Each one holds a place somewhere in our lives, whether you recognize it or not.

Here’s what you need to know about each if you would like to build your own memories.

LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA: For centuries lavender PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH

lavender lilacs & lupin

BY RACHAEL MCLEAN

has been grown for its medicinal and herbal prowess.

Today lavender remains a powerful presence in this aspect.

Although, growing it isn’t for the faint of heart. Lavender is tricky but if you have the knack, it will thrive. An excellent addition to most gardens whether it be as a low hedge, planting along walkways, or as a specimen in a mixed perennial setting. Don’t be fooled, this little one is a woody shrub and today can be found in many different cultivars.

It is slow growing, and prefers well drained, neutral to alkaline soil, full sun and patience. Dry the flowers and seeds for fragrance that will last long into the winter months. To explore the many uses of this perrenial make a trip to the lavender farm in Seafoam this summer.

SYRINGA VULGARIS: This medium- to large-sized shrub has been a staple in most urban and rural residential landscapes for decades. The fragrance of the pinnacle shaped flower is often what transports one back to their grandmother’s house.

Despite the host of susceptible diseases this shrub may fall prey to, it continues on without much care. Lilacs are best in a boarder planting or “in the back” of a grouping. They tend to get leggy and sucker. Form is not their forte. Today there are dozens and dozens of different cultivars that give a spin on Grammas old purple lilac. Fragrance, intensity, colour and size genetics have all been tinkered with giving you plenty of choice to start your own tradition.

LUPINUS: Nova Scotia’s unofficial flower is most often seen along the roadside in mass groupings that give unparalleled punches of colour. Spikey tall flowers of pink, purple, white with deep green leaves bring memories of summer vacations and looong car rides. Growing them at home can be a cautionary tale. If you have the right conditions this hardy perennial can take off and spread like wild fire. Lupin seeds have been carbon dated back 10,000 years, thriving in an alkaline soil. Clearly, this hardy perennial is here for the long haul. If starting lupins inside, try rubbing them with a little bit of sandpaper to scarify the hard coat that protects it. The seed will not germinate until moisture can penetrate the coat. If sowing directly outside, wait as late as possible in the fall to allow the frost to do the same thing. They do not transplant well and are best from seed. No wonder it’s been able to survive frozen soil for millennia. The power of this tiny seed is incredible.

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HEALTHY AT HOME

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Sustainable stockings Stuff a little eco-love in that sock!

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BY RACHAEL MCLEAN PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

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his year, I’ve really tried to step up my game in the REDUCE, REUSE + RECYCLE department.

I’m dedicated to cutting plastic bags out of my grocery experience. Even when I forget my bins, I pack everything back into my cart and load my trunk with the loose items. When I get home I load them into the bins for the trek in. It’s a pain but I am remembering more and more.

Reducing plastic in other areas of my family life has been a relatively easy task. We just had to commit. Straws are a big one.

Anytime we would go through a drive-thru, I would decline straws and there was a collective whine from the back seat but that too is becoming easier. I remind them that straws aren’t good for the environment and they seem to be content with that! At home we have purchased stainless steel straws that are still fun and easy to clean with the little brush.

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The following collection of locally sourced items are all planet happy and conversation starters that make great stocking stuffers.

It’s a conversation that we need to be having! Going into the festive season see what you can do to spread the eco-love.

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Beezy Wrap, reusable food wrap Produce Bags Choice Laundry Powder Stainless Steel Straws + Pottery Stir Stick Lip Balm Fabric Napkins Bamboo Utensil JarWare (Drink Cover + Soap Pump for Mason Jars)

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Velcro plant ties

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Wool Laundry Balls

Bio Degradable Scrub brush with interchangeable head Buncha Farmers Stain Remover Stick Reusable paper towel with print Bees Wax Candle

Be creative and look to your local vendors for eco-friendly stuffers.

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To l ve and protect How we can help heal our living shorelines

BY RACHAEL MCLEAN

N

ova Scotia’s beaches and coastal properties are second to none.

A dynamic landscape that is unrelenting and never forgives is one that we need to understand more holistically.

For hundreds of years maritimers have seen their shorelines change and all the while attempt to tame the beast that is erosion.

With climate change accelerating the process to dramatic levels, property owners are no longer able to leave these worries to the next generation.

“It’s a high science, low tech approach.”

– Rosmarie Lohnes Rosmarie Lohens began her ecological restoration company, Helping Nature Heal, in 2002. She works with the land owner to build understanding on an approach that works with Mother Nature versus against. Not your typical landscape company, her education, experience and ethos have taken a modest startup, into a nationally recognized leader in the field of ecological restoration. Rosmarie and her team lead with science and the primary understanding that relationship and community ownership in the process can benefit both people and planet.

The South Shore of Nova Scotia is home base for Rosmarie however, she and her team have a building client base all along the North Shore who believe in her ecological approach to the protection of our wasting shorelines. Sue and James McLaughlin in Caribou River, like so many, were acknowledging and spending money The North Shore

to keep the bank in front of their beloved summer house from slipping away into the ocean, season after season. They had tried it all – timber retaining walls, boulder rock walls, steel panels you name it. They were temporary fixes that caused more damage than anything.

By chance Sue attended a community open house hosted by Helping Nature Heal three years ago.

“The talk planted a seed,” she said.

Rosmarie was hosting neighbours to help educate and spread the word about another project close by. Education being a key pillar and starting point in understanding, that no one can stop Mother Nature.

“We can’t stop erosion from happening, but we can understand it better and help slow it down.” says Rosmarie.

From that community gathering, Sue and James began to look at their own property in a new light and invited Helping Nature Heal to help them structure a long-term plan of action.

Rosmarie explains “Understanding that nature is always looking to return to an angle of repose of 45 degrees, helps frame where you may be headed when looking at a vertical embankment. There are many more factors at play than just the ocean waves at the base. Wind, rain, snow, drainage, clearing of land, loss of vegetation and the list goes on. “Nothing is cookie cutter,” says Rosmarie, “but the same principals apply to shorelines all along our coast.”

Typically, intensive planting takes place the first year. Hundreds of bales of hay, perennials and salt tolerant species are planted on the slope and at the top of the bank. The team is trained to repel slopes

strategically, built terraces and pockets to allow material to catch and soil to build.

The second year the team comes back to stabilize what has been put in place. Adding more in spots that had lost over the winter.

Perennial plants are starting to show and the home owners began noticing the return of pollinators, a sure sign that things are on the right path.

In the third year most plants have established to the point that they will produce seed. This is critical. The plants now begin to take over and also build habitat. With the help of birds and small animals seeds continue to spread along the bank.

“Everyone (neighbours) is interested, they all help.

It’s a community thing” – Sue McLaughlin Helping Nature Heal have clients in ongoing five- and 10-plus-year relationships to ensure the success of the installation.

“Education is key. The more we learn from each other and our neighbours to reiterate the environment the more success we will have. This is a long term project!” Sue and James were losing anywhere from three to 10 feet of land per year. “We needed to act quickly to get the process started.”

Looking out over their ocean front property just as another season begins, Sue and James both agree that the return on investment was well worth it because they simply wouldn’t be there if they didn’t take a more holistic approach to maintenance and care of the property.

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Hardy Shoreline Plants PERENNIALS AND GRASSES

SHRUBS AND TREES

Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima) Pinks (Dianthus) Karl Foerster Reed Grass (Calmagrostis acutifolia ‘Karl Foerster’) Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) Powis Castle Artemisia (Artemisia absinthium x Powis Castle) Silver Mound Artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’) Blue Festuca Grass, Hosta Stella D’Oro Daylily (Hemerocallis hybrida Stella d’Oro) Sedum Autumn Joy (Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’)

Green Ash (Fraxinus americana) Shademaster Locust (Gelditsia triacanthos) Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) Junipers (Juniperus species) Honeysuckle (Lonicera species) Bridlewreath Spirea (Spiraea x Vanhouttei) Lilacs (Syringa species) Shrub Rose (Rosa Rugosa)

4 Things You Can Do Right Now to Help Slow Erosion 1. If at all possible move all activity and structures (cars, buildings etc) as far back from the edge of the bank as possible.

2. Stop mowing right up to the edge of the bank.

3. Identify a community access point to the beach for all to use, stay off your bank.

4. Talk to your neighbours and get more people on board.

Maximize your efforts and look at the shoreline collectively.

This will only strengthen the shoreline overall.

How to Do a Preliminary Assessment On Your Own Shoreline

DEFINITIONS: ANGLE OF REPOSE : The steepest angle at which a sloping surface formed of a particular loose material is stable.

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TOE OF THE SLOPE : Bottom of the bank.

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PERENNIALS : Plants that die down in winter and come back every spring.

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Shoreline work in Caribou River.

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1. To roughly understand how far back your bank will go before it reaches the angle of repose, stand at the bottom and take a picture from the side.

2. Draw a right angle triangle over the bank with the 45-degree angle being at the toe of the slope.

3. The slope created when you connect the point at the bottom with the point at the top of the triangle is the natural slope that the bank will attempt to achieve.

4. If there is still land left, designate this and as much land behind it as possible as a low/no traffic zone.

Next Steps 1. If able, stake rows of hay bales across the slope to allow for more material to build up in behind them.

2. Save your brush, leaves and organic yard waste. Collect from your neighbours (if they aren’t already using it) and put it over the bank. This well help plants root and cover exposed soil.

3. Stop mowing and let the grass grow up. Start planting meadow perennials and grasses. The roots will help stabilize the soil.

4. If there are trees within the angle of repose, plant large shrubs in front that will grow quickly and help absorb wind easing the possibility of the tree blow over.

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

Night Light!

I

By Rachael McLean

’ve got a secret... I’m afraid of the dark. Being outside at night in the dark, kicks my imagination into over drive. Now just to clarify, I live and have grownup in the country, there are no street lights. We had one light in the yard that didn’t always work, It is (and was) dark!

I should be used to it, comfortable even. I’m not. I always run from A to B. I am certain there are starving coyotes just waiting for me to trip.

AND Now that I’m a parent, I’m supposed to remain calm! It’s only a matter of time before they see through this sham.

My own (real) fear aside, the natural environment at night is a beautiful and spectacular one, fun even! Another element of landscape design to play with. Actually it’s an entire industry in itself. One that has come a long way in recent years. No longer is the one flood light an accepted standard.

In a recent project, I was asked to design a residential landscape down in Braeshore. When I initially sat down with the property owners, Dave and Cathy Hanley, we made a list of everything they wanted included. Lighting was on it.

“We are looking for functional and aesthetic. I want the lighting to direct guests and define our patio space” Cathy told me. “Once the trees are established I’d like them to be highlighted as well” Dave said.

The North Shore

I was excited to have clients thinking ahead!

The design took on a very strong axis with broad pathways and rectangle gardens. The challenge was to not turn this into a runway. I was once told by a seasoned lighting designer that the goal (in most situations) is to see the light, the effect, not the fixture. That has always stuck with me. See the action, the result, not the source.

In some cases, people prefer the flood light for security purposes but often lighting your landscape, house or property can be accomplished with strategic positioning that gets the job done and doesn’t contribute to another (real) problem, light pollution.

Light pollution has different categories. The one that you have the most ability to help, is Light Trespass. Shine lights down on the desired path or area. Keep it close to the ground this way, the light isn’t being sent up and lost in the darkness. You see where your feet are going.

Plan ahead and install the lights properly so that they are located where most effective. Pay attention to the range and requirement for the lights being installed.

My favourite landscape light? The campfire! I am looking forward to warm nights around the fire this summer, S’mores, singing but NO ghost stories!!

ah! Summer 2016 - 50

flowers

INSIDE STORY

FARM YOUR OWN

BY RACHAEL MCLEAN PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE WHELAN

I

s there anything better than a fresh cut of blooms on your kitchen table? Or better yet receiving a little posy of love from someone special. A fist full of daisies and clover are my favourite but as much as I love to receive flowers they are just as much fun to give. So to make sure that I have enough blooms to go around this year I am totally digging the idea of having my own cutting garden to pluck from whenever the spirit moves me.

People have been adorning their homes and special places they want to honour for thousands of years. While flowers were often and still are an important part of many religious celebrations, the ideas of bringing your bloomers inside to simply brighten your space is just as storied and beautiful.

Flower arranging is a coveted art form but before you can even think about how you are going to make a statement with your cut flowers it’s important to know what to grow.

7-

ah! Spring 2018

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY Megan Balodis and her husband Eric own and operate Marshdale Farms – Beef and Blooms. Megan, a graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture from Dalhousie with Bachelors in Plant Science and Masters in Agriculture, is no stranger to research and science. In the last few years that she has been farming flowers she has started to figure out what flowers bloom best and how to plant so that you can be cutting and enjoying flowers in your house all summer long.

After graduation Megan went to work for a company exploring vertical warehouse farming. She enjoyed her work but something was missing in her day. It wasn't until she met Eric and settled on their farm that it became apparent, she was missing the sun. Megan happily gave up the computer screen and launched into farming beef with Eric and soaking up as much daylight as she could.

Megan says that their farmland has in one way or another been part of her husband’s family for decades but after settling into farm life, she found herself wrestling with her role and needed something more.

As we chatted on a bright February Day with the farm acreage still a foot deep with winter’s frost, Megan shared that she was never an animal person. “Plants are my thing,” she says, with seed catalogues on the table and flowers everywhere you look in the farmhouse.

The “Blooms” portion of the partnership began in an experimental capacity as any new adventure does on a farm. Seeing a niche and resurgence in cut flower farming, her natural ability to produce gorgeous blooms was evident, but not without hard work.

Today Megan has about a quarter of an acre planted for her flower farming. It doesn’t sound like a lot and only a small percentage of their property but it’s enough to keep Megan in the cut flower business from spring until late fall.

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Most of Megan’s flowering plants are perennials.

Last fall she plugged 100 peony bulbs in the ground and is expecting to have about 60 different varieties of bloomers throughout the growing season. Sunflowers and wildflowers with a mix of ornamental grasses are some of her more popular bouquets that she sells at the New Glasgow Farmers Market once her plants begin to produce.

In the next month she looks forward to the first spring flowers to emerge from the earth. Daffodils and tulips will wake from their winter slumber and the show will begin as the Queen of blooms, the Peonies start to bud and the Cosmos, Zinnias and Snap Dragons respond to the warming sun.

Being a flower farmer brings a special joy into Megan’s life. She says she loves when she chats with her customers at the market and they will share stories that are evoked from memories of flowers. And just like the fresh produce that vendors display Megan’s flowers offer that freshness that can’t be found in a flower bought in a store that has had to travel far before it makes its way to your favourite vase.

“I believe that flowers shouldn't be for special occasions only, “ says Megan. “They improve quality of life and therefore should be part of your everyday. Of course I would love to sell my flowers to everyone but at the same time they shouldn’t be so hesitant to cut their own. Arranging flowers isn't a science, just relax and put things together that you like.”

Planting some extra would ease the pressure if the thought of cutting those precious blooms will disrupt the displays in your landscape. Megan's right. We do need to relax and just pick/cut the flowers! They do grow back after all.

MUST HAVES FOR YOUR CUTTING GARDEN: Calendula Daffodils Hydrangea Ladies Mantle Liatris Lily of the Valley Peonies Queen Anne’s Lace Snap Dragons Tulips

OBEDIENCE FLOWER Did you know that the flower got its name because you can bend it in just about any direction you want so it is a great flower to add to arrangements.

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INSIDE STORY

TIPS TO NURTURE YOUR OWN CUTTING GARDEN

Calendula

Daffodils

Hydrangea

Ladies Mantle

Liatris

Lily of the Valley

Peonies

Queen Anne's Lace

Snap Dragons

Tulips

The North Shore

Margie Beck of Westville is known for her bloomers.

This summer she will be hosting a number of workshops at the Stellarton location of West River Greenhouse including a chat about growing flowers to share. She answered a few questions about backyard flower farming so there will be no seeds of doubt that you can grow your own too.

AH!: Margie you are well known in the gardening community. What should a new gardener consider if they want to plant a cutting garden?

MARGIE: There are so many beautiful flowers. I mostly stick with perennials with lots of blooms but I also think it is important to grow a few species of greenery to really show off the colour.

AH!: What are your favourite flowers to grow for cutting?

MARGIE: That’s a tough one but I do love lots of Daisies, Black-Eyed Susan’s and Cone Flowers. Dahlias are awesome too and so are Liatris they have a unique shape and they have three or four flowers on a stem.

AH!: Do you plan your garden so you have blooms all season long?

MARGIE: If you plan properly you can have flowers or at least something to bring indoors all year long. From the first little pansies to come up to Lily of the Valley and hyacinths right through until the fall with Chinese Lanterns. Then there are things that you can forage as well like pussy willows. I also like to take a Forsythia branch indoors. If you put it in the dark for a couple of days and then put it in water you will have spring blooms before the snow is even gone.

AH!: Is there a right time to cut a blossom?

MARGIE: For a lot of flowers you should cut just as the colour is starting to show in the bud. Then you are going to get a much longer life out of the bloom. This is especially true for Roses and Peonies and Glads.

AH!: Is there an renewed appreciation for more of the heritage plants or plants that were often in your grandmother’s garden?

MARGIE: I think that flowers are very nostalgic and as the Baby Boomers continue to age there is more time to reminisce.

For younger people I think there is a trend or a need to return to more simpler times and flowers will do this. The garden is a happy place for a lot of people. Once the weather improves I live in my garden and sleep in my house.

ah! Spring 2018 - 10

growing

OPINION

CHANGE

BY RACHAEL McLEAN

P

ut your hand up if you’ve had a lot of emotion this winter. Mine is up. Way up.

The unprecedented events that have transpired in the last few months south of our boarder and beyond, are still hardly believable. But they are real. Very. The uprising that is boiling over is causing more people than ever to make changes. If there is anything good to come about, it’s that.

This is where I always end up, saying to myself in nearly every situation: well here we are, now what are we going to do about it. That question is terrifying at times.

The whole world, near and far is full of scary, but it’s also filled with a lot of good.

So... What can I do about big issues?

Bringing it back to what I have in my power to do is key. My hope is to start with me, and grow to we. Back in the fall when social media feeds were full of wringing hands and disbelief, a friend of mine said, “I’m going to put my hands in the soil today and connect with what I know.” Such a simple statement, that I have thought about that different times since then and it has really made me think. This year I’m going to grow a garden. Now that doesn’t sound huge and actually I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I don’t, but there it is. For me, the landscape is a large part of who I am.

Connecting with community is another.

Connecting back to the simple and whole, gets pushed to the wayside all to often.

Life can get hectic. Growing some food this spring is something I can do. Something that will make change in my life allowing me to give back and share. It’s not rocket science but if we all made some sort of effort to slow down and connect with the environment, each other and ourselves, we’d be making some serious headway.

There are so many amazing ways to get your hands into the soil even if you are tight on space. We have community gardens throughout the North Shore that are always looking for more hands and provide food directly back to the community. Supporting a local CSA (community supported agriculture) is the least messy, and still connecting with local ground. Check out Hilltop Homestead on Facebook. Container gardening is another way to make change on a smaller scale like an apartment or nursing home, easily achieved with some extra hands, and these are only a few food producing ideas.

We are blessed to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscape in the world here in Nova Scotia. I, for one, can’t wait for those spring breezes but until then I’m getting my hands on a seed catalogue and putting an action plan together.

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ah! Spring 2017

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

seedy conversation A

BY RACHAEL MCLEAN PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

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T

here is a season turn turn turn... and just like that Fall is in the air. It’s a difficult shift for many but Mother Nature waits for no one.

Recently, I had the chance to catch up with Corey Ceccolini, farmer and CSA owner/operator extraordinaire. I have been so impressed with the produce that she and her partner Justin have been growing; a visit to check out their acreage was long over due.

After a large welcome from their Great Pyrenees, Moose, we toured the gardens and got to chatting about her season and what was in store in the coming weeks.

RACHAEL: What does CSA stand for?

COREY: CSA means Community Supported or Shared Agriculture. With a CSA model, shares are purchased by the community ahead of the growing season, allowing the farmer to plan and plant accordingly.

Every week for about 17 weeks in the growing season, the customer receives a basket of a variety of vegetables. Often there is information and recipes included to help you cook what you get.

CSA’s provide local food security, employment, community building and benefits to the environment! Wins all round.

RACHAEL: How has your season been so far?

COREY: Really great! I’m always amazed at what these plots of land can produce. We grow fresh produce baskets for about 40 families every week. Once everything has been harvested, cleaned and packed, the sheer volume on pickup day is very satisfying. This Spring we dug a pond and added a well for some much needed irrigation which has made a big difference in our crop.

RACHAEL: 40 families! Wow! That is impressive Corey. Can you share some of your secrets that set you up for success and such a great haul?

COREY: It comes down to planning and hard work. You really have to have a love for it. We are in the midst of our growing and harvesting but are already setting ourselves up for next Spring.

RACHAEL: You had me at planning and design! Most would think that this is a Winter time activity, curled up by the fire with a seed catalog.

What are you doing now to plan for next season?

COREY: Now is when we get to see the planning from last year in action.

It’s when we decide what will make the cut for next season. Starting with some of our earliest varieties right through to frost, we allow some of the plants to flower and then produce seed. It’s great for our honey

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bees and is the basis for our planting next Spring.

Right now, broccoli is flowering, beans, peas and tomatoes are all ready to be picked for seed saving. We also have a great crop of buckwheat in flower as a cover crop. Our garlic is drying and 1/3 of that will be planted again for the next growing season.

RACHAEL: Would you have some tips for people trying this for the first time and perhaps not on this scale?

COREY: I would start with vegetables that are easy to dry, collect and store. Beans are perfect and produce beautiful seed. Plant extra to grow just for seed so you don’t cut into your fresh bean supply. Allow the plants to do their thing, they know what to do. The pod will eventually shrink and the seeds within the beans will bulge. Pick the beans when dry (no dew etc.) and lay them out flat in an area with good air circulation so that mould doesn’t form. The pods will become brittle.

That’s when you know they are ready to be shelled. Load them into a basket and some night with a relaxing drink and Netflix you can make great headway!

RACHAEL: Multitasking at its best, I love it. You are involved in a local seed collective, what is that all about?

COREY: Pictou County Seed Collective is a group of people who love seeds! The power of the seed is amazing. We collect and save seed to trade, build community and to be a resource to one and another. Seed collection is just one piece of the sustainable chain that we all have a role to play in. We have a FaceBook group and hold a Seedy Saturday in the Spring that is open to all.

The North Shore

Corey shows Rachael a few vegetables that are ready to be harvested.

Seeds that will be dried and shared.

Rachael and Corey in conversation in a field of flowering buckwheat.

Thank you Rachael, from all of us At Home

ah! Fall 2017 - 10